macOS 27 and Spaces: what changed and what to try
We run Spacepal on macOS 27.2 every day, on one MacBook with one display. This page says what we saw there, not what happens on every Mac. We will update it as we test more setups.
What changed
In macOS 27.2 the bar of desktops at the top of Mission Control moved from the Dock to another system process. Tools that read that bar from the Dock stop finding it. That is why names inside Mission Control disappeared in Spacepal 1.2.1.
Where Spacepal stands on 27.2
| Feature | On macOS 27.2 |
|---|---|
| Names, icons and the menu bar | Works |
| Overview and switching | Works |
| Moving windows that are not in front | Works |
| Names inside Mission Control | Not in 1.2.1; fixed for the next update |
If Spaces or Mission Control misbehave
- Desktops change order: turn off "Automatically rearrange Spaces based on most recent use" in System Settings, Desktop & Dock. See the settings worth changing.
- Clicking an app jumps to another desktop: see how to stop it.
- Windows land on the wrong desktop after a restart: see what causes it.
- Mission Control stalls or goes black: one guide reports that restarting the Dock often clears it. Run
killall Dockin Terminal; the Dock comes straight back. We have not seen this problem ourselves.
Written by Dan Bayer, developer of Spacepal. Last updated 2026-11-02.